Fast fire boat

ABSTRACT

A ship hull for a fire boat capable of speeds up over 18 knots and up to 22 knots formed from high tensile strength steel by a method comprising: (a) longitudinally framing said hull by forming a frame having more longitudinal members than transverse members, and wherein said longitudinal members are spaced to carry more and absorb more of the weight and stress than the transverse members, and wherein said longitudinal members are in a spaced parallel relations of between 12 and 24 inches apart, and said transverse members are in a spaced parallel relation of between 48 and 96 inches apart, and (b) plate and shape weight minimization modeling consisting of using rule based parametric equations to size plates and shapes which are based on industrial classification society standards.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION.

[0001] The invention refers to a hull for a twin screw vessel having a superstructure and crews quarters with a plurality of fire pumps, at least one located on the main deck and at least one located on the superstructure. The invention relates to a fire boat which is build using a unique method for longitudinal framing which creates a vessel capable of sustaining more weight and stress through longitudinal members than transverse member.

[0002] In conventional fire boats speeds have rarely exceeded 14 knots due to the weight of the vessel and the inability to have more longitudinal support for stress and load reduction.

[0003] A need has long existed for a fire boat which can go fast, up to 22 knots while maintaining excellent vessel integrity and strength.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] A ship hull for a fire boat capable of speeds up over 18 knots and up to 22 knots formed from high tensile strength steel by a method comprising: longitudinally framing said hull by forming a frame having more longitudinal members than transverse members, and wherein said longitudinal members are spaced to carry more and absorb more of the weight and stress than the transverse members, and wherein said longitudinal members are in a spaced parallel relations of between 12 and 24 inches apart, and said transverse members are in a spaced parallel relation of between 48 and 96 inches apart, and (b) plate and shape weight minimization modeling consisting of using rule based parametric equations to size plates and shapes which are based on industrial classification society standards.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] The invention is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0006]FIG. 1 is the outboard profile of the fire boat.

[0007]FIG. 2 is the tank plan of the fire boat.

[0008]FIG. 3 is the hold plan of the fire boat.

[0009]FIG. 4 is the main deck plan of the fire boat.

[0010]FIG. 5 is the deck house plan of the fire boat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] According to the invention and FIG. 1, a fire boat 10 has a bow 12 and stem 14 with a hull 16, a main deck 18 and a superstructure 20 which includes the deckhouse.

[0012] This fire boat has been built using a unique method of longitudinally framing said hull by (a) forming a frame having more longitudinal members than transverse members, and wherein said longitudinal members are spaced to carry more and absorb more of the weight and stress than the transverse members, and wherein said longitudinal members are in a spaced parallel relations of between 12 and 24 inches apart, and said transverse members are in a spaced parallel relation of between 48 and 96 inches apart, and (b) plate and shape weight minimization modeling consisting of using rule based parametric equations to size plates and shapes which are based on industrial classification society standards, and special high tensile strength steel.

[0013] The fire boat has an engine room disposed just aft of the centerline of the vessel, and one of the two diesel engines which are part of the preferred embodiment is shown as 22.

[0014] At least three fire pumps are used on this vessel, 24, 26 and 28. Fire pump 24 is located aft of the superstructure 20 on the main deck 18, fire pump 28 is located in the bow, forward of the superstructure 20. The third fire pump 26 is located preferably on the superstructure itself.

[0015] A novel tank layout is shown in FIG. 2 for a fire boat constructed using this unique method. Preferably, the two main fuel tanks for the fire pumps 24 and 26 are located midships as tank 30 and 32. The fuel tank for the motors is located just aft of midships as tank 34. A fresh water tank is located in the bow as tank 36.

[0016]FIG. 3 shows a typical hold plan for a fire boat, wherein the engine room 38 is located aft of the midships of the fire boat. Forward of the engine room 38 which contains at least one, preferably at least two diesel motors 22, and 40, is the pump room 42. It should be noted that the engines 22 and 40 are preferably connected to generators 44 and 46.

[0017] In pump room 42, is at least one, preferably two fire pump engines 48 and 50. Fire pump engines 48 and 50 are preferably connected to fuel tanks 30 and 32 respectively. It should be noted that engines 22 and 40 are preferably connected to fuel tank 34.

[0018] In a most preferred embodiment, the fire boat has a bow thruster 52 disposed in the forward portion of the hull which is connected to fuel tank 30.

[0019] Located forward of the pump room 42 is preferably crews quarters 54 with at least one head 56 and galley facilities 58.

[0020]FIG. 4 shows the main deck plan for a preferred embodiment of the fire boat. In this embodiment, at least two fire pumps are shown located on the aft deck as 60 and 24. These fire pumps are connected to the five pump motors 60 and 24 which in turn are connected to fuel tanks 30 and 32.

[0021] A third fire pump 28 is shown located on the deck near the bow of the fire boat. Fire pump 28 is connected to the pump 24 which in turn is connected to the fuel tank 34.

[0022] A pilothouse or similar deckhouse superstructure is secured to the main deck having storage for fire-fighting gear, additional berths for crewmembers, and the dining space 62. A pilothouse 64 is located forward of the dining space in the most preferred embodiment. Discharge manifolds 66 and 68 are preferably disposed on the superstructure of the deckhouse.

[0023]FIG. 5 shows a preferred deck house top plan with a fire monitor 26 located on the roof.

[0024] This fire boat is made from a high tensile strength steel, such as Cortens steel.

[0025] While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A ship hull for a fire boat capable of speeds up over 18 knots and up to 22 knots formed from high tensile strength steel by a method comprising: (a) longitudinally framing said hull by forming a frame having more longitudinal members than transverse members, and wherein said longitudinal members are spaced to carry more and absorb more of the weight and stress than the transverse members, and wherein said longitudinal members are in a spaced parallel relations of between 12 and 24 inches apart, and said transverse members are in a spaced parallel relation of between 48 and 96 inches apart, (b) plate and shape weight minimization modeling consisting of using rule based parametric equations to size plates and shapes which are based on industrial classification society standards.
 2. A vessel with the hull according to claim 1, comprising an engine room with machinery positioned in the aft portion of the hull.
 3. A vessel with the hull according to claim 2, wherein the hull comprises a superstructure which is positioned forward of the engine room.
 4. A vessel with the hull according to claim 1, wherein the machinery in the engine room comprises at least one drive motor and a generator driven by this motor coupled to a propeller shaft.
 5. A vessel with the hull according to claim 1, wherein the machinery in the engine room comprises at least one jet drive motor and a generator driven by this motor.
 6. A vessel with the hull according to claim 4, wherein said motor is a diesel motor.
 7. A vessel with the hull according to claim 6, further comprising at least one fire pump disposed on the deck of said vessel.
 8. A vessel with the hull according to claim 4, wherein said engine room comprises at least two diesel engines as drive motors and at least two diesel fire pump engines.
 9. A vessel with the hull according to claim 8, further comprising at least one bow thruster.
 10. A vessel with the hull according to claim 8, wherein said vessel has a main deck and superstructure, a plurality of fire pumps disposed on the main deck of said vessel and at least one fire pump is disposed on the superstructure of said vessel.
 11. A vessel with the hull according to claim 10, further comprising at least 3 fuel tanks and at least 3 fire pumps, wherein a first and second fuel tank are located side by side at the midships of said fire boat for fueling the motors of a first and second fire pumps, and a third fuel tank is located aft of said first and second fuel tanks for fueling the motor of a third fire pump and said plurality of diesel motors.
 12. A vessel with the hull of claim 1, wherein the tensile strength of the steel is greater than the tensile strength for conventional steel.
 13. A vessel with the hull of claim 12, which is 85 feet long. 